This custom ICON D90 LS3 re-imagines what it means to be a Defender. Using a 1995 Land Rover Defender D90, the automotive wizards at Icon have recreated the iconic Land Rover using upgraded components including a V8 LS3 aluminum short block engine to develop a vehicle more aptly suited for the needs of today’s urban driver.
Land Rover enthusiasts are likely to respond to a Defender without a diesel engine as an outright travesty, but we urge our readers to give the truck a chance (and to watch the video included, below). Icon’s goal here was to satisfy their customer, who wanted to see “what a D90 could be” and they’ve certainly opened some eyes in the process. The classic GM short block engine is rated at 430 horsepower, giving the ICON LS3 plenty of “giddy-up-and-go,” resulting in a D90 that the Icon team describes as “crazy fast.” The LS3 engine is teamed up with custom breaks and suspension, to offer a vehicle that can handle its new found speed, without compromising its trademark off road superiority.
The D90’s wholesale changes were not limited to the power train as the LS3 boasts a completely custom redesigned interior, including new dash, door panels, door hinges, seats and HVAC system - imagine a Defender with air conditioning that works! The ICON LS3 is finished in a powder coated black finish that gives the appearance of the popular matte black with added micah particles to catch and reflect the sunlight.
Sure, it’s not the Defender that you or I have grown up loving, but by maintaining the overall look of the original, the ICON D90 is sure to appeal to those looking for more practical functionality and performance.
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